A school that fell from grace in its last Ofsted report has celebrated opening as an academy.

The Wisbech St Mary Church of England Academy opening event was joined by the Bishop John Flack and Andrew Read, CEO of Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust and Rev Matthew Bradbury.

Joining them was head teacher Nina Redhead and NE Cambs MP Steve Barclay.

Mr Barclay said: “It was uplifting to hear the head teacher, Nina Redhead, talk about the journey the school has been on and the bright future she foresees.

“I would like to wish the staff and pupils the best of luck for this new chapter in the school’s history.”

The school was labelled as ‘inadequate’ following an Ofsted inspection last year.

The school on Church Road secured a ‘good’ grading from its inspection in 2012, but ‘inconsistent’ teaching quality and ‘low’ standards of reading, writing and mathematics resulted in lead Ofsted inspector Chris Moodie’s ‘inadequate’ ruling in 2015.

However, the school’s head teacher, Ms Redhead, was praised for her efforts since taking over at the school in January 2015.

The report said Ms Redhead had ‘made a positive impact on all of the staff’s work,’ and that the school’s teaching staff have ‘rallied under the head teacher’s leadership and are determined to make things better.’

The academy teaches 153 pupils from ages four to 11.